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News 8 Austin Relies on Utah Scientific Routing Equipment for Phased-In HD Upgrade
SALT LAKE CITY — Oct. 14, 2009 — Utah Scientific today announced that News 8, the 24-hour cable news station in Austin, Texas, has installed a 144-frame UTAH-400 routing switcher and the company’s SC-4 control as the basis for a phased-in HD upgrade. A new Utah Scientific customer, News 8 has also implemented Utah’s MX-Lator control translation unit, which is enabling the station to keep using a legacy analog audio router until it makes the eventual transition to fully embedded audio.
Citing reliability, customer support, and the industry-leading warranty as reasons for choosing Utah Scientific, News 8 Chief Engineer Roland Bigley added, “I have equipment from other companies that is only five years old, but already it’s not under warranty, and there’s no support. Utah Scientific is different. Unlike some manufacturers, they have stuck to their core line through the years. That’s the business they know best, and their continued support is outstanding.”
News 8 began planning its cost-effective transition to HD two years ago and is making its purchases from the inside-out, beginning with the router at the heart of the system. Because it can handle multiple signal types, the UTAH-400 (loaded 112x72 3G HD/SD) fits into News 8’s operation, which combines legacy and new equipment, and it will continue to support the broadcaster throughout the transition to full HD.
With a new production switcher in place, the cable broadcaster is now shopping for cameras and an HD multiviewer. The flexible Utah SC-4 Control System, which features modular design and advanced software, enables News 8 operators to control and monitor routers, master control, and multiviewers easily, regardless of signal format. With support from Utah’s MX-Lator unit, the SC-4 also controls the station’s Philips Venus audio router.
“The Austin television audience is a demanding one, and News 8 Austin is committed to thorough local coverage,” said Tom Harmon, president and CEO of Utah Scientific. “Relying on equipment from Utah Scientific, the cable station is able to improve broadcast quality and reliability by making a phased-in transition to HD without breaking the bank.”
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About News 8 Austin
News 8 Austin launched on Sept. 13, 1999, and is Austin's first and only 24-hour, 7-day-a-week local news channel. News 8 Austin is one of eight local news channels operated by Time Warner Cable's regional cable companies. News 8 Austin and its affiliates represent the state-of-the-art in local television news coverage, delivering on a commitment to responsible and community-oriented journalism on an around-the-clock basis. Its coverage area extends to more than 360,000 cable households from Liberty Hill to Temple, Fredericksburg to Smithville, and throughout Central Texas. News 8 Austin is an exclusive community service for the customers of Time Warner Cable.
About Utah Scientific, Inc.
About Utah Scientific Inc.
Utah Scientific is the world's leading specialist in analog, digital, and HDTV routing switchers, master control switchers, and related control software. For more than 30 years, the company has provided industry-leading products and best-in-class service and support as recognized, again in 2009, by Frost & Sullivan with its Customer Service Leadership Award and demonstrated by the industry's first no-fee 10-year warranty. |
